Giant Nabs License for “Rage of Mages” MMO

Shanghai-based online game company Giant Interactive (NYSE:GA) has signed an agreement with Russian internet portal and online game publisher Mail.Ru Inc. to operate free-to-play MMORPG Allods Online in mainland China, Giant announced February 8.

The game was developed with a budget of $12 million by Astrum Nivel, Mail.Ru’s mainland China studio, has launched commercially in the Russian-speaking market, and is registered to begin closed beta in Europe and the US. The “Allods” series is known internationally as “Rage of Mages,” the announcement said.